Means to dispense sterile sheet-like components

ABSTRACT

Treated sheets or pads are each encased in a hertically sealed sheath and stacked within a housing. At least one packet is aligned with a restricted dispensing opening of the housing. A tab is operatively associated with a weakened portion of said aligned packet and adapted to be drawn through said opening whereby said weakened portion is ruptured and continued pulling on said tab effects withdrawal of one of said sheath or treated element from the housing while the wall defining the restricted opening retains the other one of said sheath or treated element.

United States Patent 11 1 Boone 11 3,744,448 14 1 July 10, 1973 MEANS T0DISPENSE STERILE SHEET-LIKE COMPONENTS [76] Inventor: Philip Boone, 15Fenwick Road,

Winchester, Mass.

22 Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 211 App]. No.: 238,578 I Related its.Application Data [63] Continuation-in-pa'rt of Ser. No.- 678,600, Oct.27,

1967, abandoned, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 715,768, March25, 1968, Pat. No. 3,652,174.

[52] US. CL. 118/37, 118/506, 206/56 AC, I 206/56. C, 221/69, 401/132[51] Int. Cl. B43k 5/14 ['58] FieldlofSearch... ..22l/3032,

- 22 1/22-2 6,45,46', 63,69 12,91,75, 102; 206 56 AC, 56 A, 56 R, 56 AA,56 c, 56

AB; 118/506, 400, 4043; 96/76 R, 76 c;

[56] Y References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,877 12/1918 Graham206/56 AA UX 3/1922 Balogh 206/56 AA UX 2,087,236 7/1937 Andersm. 206/56AA ux 2,118,849 5/1938 Lindsey, 221/32 2,335,159 11 1943 Salfisberg229/53 2,554,889 9/1951 -.w61fr;-. 96/76 R x 2,840,086 6/1968 Clark128/296 3,113,496 12/1963 Eburn, Jr. et 61-. 96/76 R x 3,309,201 3/1967Friedman 61 a1. 96/76 c 3,357,331 12/1967 Erikson 96 76 R x 3,370,7472/1968 221/26 Desmond Primary Exriminer-M0rr1s Kaplan 1 71 ABSTRACTrestricted opening retains the other one of said sheath or treatedelement.

19 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAIENIw JUL omn filed Oct. 27, I967, nowabandoned, for Apparatus For Providing Wetted And Unwetted Materials ForCleansing And Related'Uses, and Ser. No. 7l5,768'filed Mar.

25, 1968, now Pat. No. 3,652,174, for Hermetically sealed Products AndRelated Method For Cleansing And Other Uses.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The subject invention is concerned withmaking available, rapidly and conveniently as a one-handed operation,one or more treated sheets, flat pads or sponges, bandages, swabs or thelike for cleansing, sanitation, medical or other purposes. The inventionmakes it unnecessary to use both hands or fumble in attempttant factor.In so doing it may perform one duty of the so-called unsterile nurse.

The device comprises a housing component including means cooperatingwith means of a plurality of sealed containers mounted therein, eachcarrying a treatedsheet-like element, to effect opening of thecontainers and removal of each sheet-like element ready for use. Each ofthe sheet-like elements includes a draw-tab permitting easy and rapidwithdrawal.

A basic liquid carried in the container and by the sheet-like materialfor purposes of the present invention may, for example, be largelydistilled sterile water, water and alcohol, or water, alcohol and anemollient such as lanolin. Where serving primarily as a refreshant, aso-called fragrance may be included. Other possible ingredients includea humectant, e.g., glycerine or propylene glycol, anappropriateantiseptic or germicidal substance, or a bacteriostat such ashexachlorophene, a mineral oil and emulsifying agent, and a stabilizingagent. While a liquid as, for example, a liquid having a sterilizingproperty may have a wider application as a treating agent and may bestated herein, it is to be understood that the substance may be in theform of a powder, a salve or the like.

The housing component is preferably composed of a relatively inexpensiveplastic material such as polystyrene, methyl methacrylate,polycarbonate, etc. formed by molding and adapted to be thrown away whenits contents is exhausted. It may, therefore, be mounted in a morepermanent mounting bracket as a disposable cartridge. The bracket, inturn, may be attached to a supporting surface such as a wall or to afixture such as a toilet-tissue dispenser, means for the purpose beingprovided. i

The housing component, as previously intimated, embodies meanscooperating with those of the container components for opening thelatter. Among these instrumentalities are means for shearing marginalportions of the container; means for stripping a cover sheet; means forselectively holding container parts against withdrawal, etc. Thecontainers, in turn, include such cooperating means as prede terminedlyfrangible and strippable areas; pull-string severing means effectingseparation of container'areas from one another; means for spacing thesheet-like elements from housing parts to prevent contamination; meansfor making a single draw-tab available for use at any given moment, etc.

In addition to the aforementionedsuitability of the device for use in abathroom, a hospital area or the like it is contemplated that it mayserve a useful function elsewhere as, for example, when mounted in avehicle such as an automobile, train, airplane or boat, as a convenienceor first-aid item. The housing may also be of a compact portable formadapted to carrying in a bag.

In accordance with the foregoing considerations, objects of theinvention are to provide a device comprising housing means for mountinga plurality of sealed containers each carrying a treated sheet-likeelement and embodying cooperating means of the housing and containersfor opening the latter and facilitating withdrawal of the sheet-likeelement as a single-handed operation; to provide a device ascharacterized wherein the the housing component is of an inexpensivedispo'sable type; to provide a device as set forth in which thesheet-like element is maintained in a sterile condition both in thecontainer and during withdrawal; to provide draw-tabs for the sheet-likeelements which cooperate with means of the housing component to insurebut one draw-tab being visible and available for use at any time.

Other objects of the inventionwill in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE- DRAWING The novel features which areconsidered to be characteristic of the invention are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention, however,

both as to its organization and its method of operation FIGS. 2, 2a and2b are diagrammatic views of a modified container component; 1

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of a housing component inwhich are mounted the containers of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing and container components ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of modified container and hous-' ing means of theinvention;

FIGS. 5a and 5b are fragmentary side views of container and draw-tabarrangements;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the containers of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the housing component shownin part in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of clamping means forreleasably attaching the housing component or a mounting brackettherefor to a supporting surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 there is shown one embodiment of thedevice 10 of the invention comprising the container or envelope 12within which is carried a sheet or pad 14 bonded to an inner surface ofone or both of the container walls 16 and 18 the sheet being treatedwith a substance such asa liquid. The container is formed, for example,of a flexible liquid-, air-, and gasimpermeable material such aspolyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Or it may be composed of amulti-layered sheet comprising the sheet 14, a paper 20, a metallic foil22 and a plastic coating 24, as shown in FIG. la.

The container walls 16 and 18 are frangibly sealed together at one endand along two sides as by heat sealing by the binding strips 26, 28 and30. The binding strips, also formed of a similarly impermeable material,have a lower tear strength than that of the walls 16 and 18. At itsother end the container walls terminate in unsealed portions formed by adraw-tab 34 and the shorter tab 32. lnwardly of the tabs, the containeris provided with an airand vapor-tight seal at 36.

The container 12 is mounted in a housing component 38 having asubstantially open front at each transverse extremity of which arepositioned the shearing blades 40 and 42. The housing and parts shownare to be assumed as being enlarged and duplicated to accomodate aplurality of the containers. When the draw-tab 34 is pulled manually theblades 40 and 42 enter the V formed by the tabs and contact the sidestrips 28 and 30. Continued pulling of tab 34 draws the container 12from the housing 38 while the side strips 28 and 30 are severedthroughout their length. Where complete sterility of the sheet 14 is notessential a wedge-like bar 44 maybe included to extend between theblades 40 and 42. This element serves to break the seal 36 whereby, inconjunctionwith severing of the side strips 28 and 30, the containeriscompletely opened. Where sterility of the sheet 14 is essential, asmall bar of a length equal to a transverse measurement including theblades 40 and 42 may be sealed within the area 36. This bar, not shown,will serve to break the seal when in contact with the blades as providedby pulling the draw-tab 34.

When the container has been opened, as above described, the treated andsterile applicator sheet or pad 14 affixed to inner surfaces of thecontainer walls 16 and 18 and folded upon itself at the extremity 26 isavailable for use.

The container component 46 of FIG. 2 includes a rectangular receptacle48 formed, for example, of a plastic material such as polystyrene andhaving an open face at 50. A resilient pad 52 composed, for instance, oforganic or synthetic fibers, is compressed into the receptacle 48 by aliquidand gas-impermeable cover sheet 54 having a leader or draw-tab 56,the cover sheetbeing releasably bonded to marginal and end portions ofthe container at 54a, 54b and 54c, as by a heat seal. The pad is treatedwith a liquid or other substance within the receptacle as describedhereinbefore. When the cover sheet 54 is stripped from the receptacle,either of two forms of treated pad is provided as shown in FIGS. 20 and2b. Additionally, treated sheet 54 is provided as shown in FIG. 2a. Thesheet 54 may have a soft inner liningsuch as a suitable paper, notshown. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment a of the devicecomprisinga housing component 58 for mounting a plurality of thecontainer components 46 in contiguous relation and for supplyingindividually and conveniently, as a single-handed operation, the pad orsheet elements of FIGS. 2a and 2b by pulling the drawtab 56. The housingcomponent 58 includes the rear wall 60, two narrow front wall portions62 having slots 64 formed therein and a pair of side walls 66 togetherforming a chamber68. Within the chamber 68 the container components 46are stacked and adapted to forward, e.g., downward movement as urgedbygravity or supplementary biasing means such as a pressure plate,

not shown. The foremost or leading container 46 is held fixed by theshoulder 70 extending inwardly from the rear wall 60 and by the frontwall slots 64'. The

housing component 58, as shown in FIG. 4, may be considered as of adisposable type such as a throw-away cartridge and as releasably mountedin a bracket orfixture 72 Also shown in part is a receptacle 74 forreceiving the sheath 48 after separation of the cover sheet 54therefrom.

The housing component 58 or the bracket 72 may be mounted on asupporting surface such as a wall 76 (FIG. 7) or the like, fastened to asurface 78 by a clamp 80 having tensioning means 81 (FIG. 8), or, forexample, on the stub shafts of a conventional toilet-tissue dispenser bya pair of engaging members of the type of 82 and 84 which extend fromeither the walls 66 or 72. The pair of members 82 would be employed tosuspend the device downwardly from the stub shafts while a pair 84 wouldpermit an overhead mounting thereof.

The constructions of FIGS. 5 and 6, A and B, illustrate anotherembodiment 10b of the invention and include the hermetically sealedcontainers or capsules 86 and 88, each comprising a sheath formed of apair of superimposed gasand vapor-impermeable sheets or sections 90 and92 sealed'along contiguous marginal portions at 94. The sheath could beformed of a single folded sheet alternatively. The sheet-like element orpad 96 or 98 treated with a substance such as a liquid and, optionally,having a fibrous filling material 100 contiguous therewith is enclosedin a sterile condition in the sheath. It will be noted, by way ofexample, that the sheet 96 is a single stirred sheet (FIG. 6) while thesheet 98 is folded on itself.

In the example of FIGS. 5 and 6 A, a pull-cord 102 attached to thesheet-like element 96 passes releasably around guide means 104, through8 sealed perforation 106 at the sealed margin at 94 8nd is attached tothe draw-tab 108, an end of which may be releasably attached to an outersurface of the sheath as by a separable seal. When the draw-tab ispulled, it pulls the pullcord which breaks the sealed marginal portions94, thus separating the upper and lower areas of the sheath from oneanother permitting withdrawal of the sheetlike element.

. sheet-like element substantially dry, means for the purexteriorly ofthe housing, When a draw-tab is pulled,

- the treated sheet, 96 or 98, is drawn from the sheath and through theslit 126 and is ready for use.

In FIG. Sathere is illustrated means for insuring the sterility ofeither the sheet 96 or 98 while it is being drawn from the housingthrough the aperture 126. While in FIG. 5 A and B the aperture is shownas of a width which provides an adequate spacing between the treatedsheet surface and the wall portion 128 to avoid contact between the twounder normal circumstances, the means of FIG. 5a present an additionalsafeguard. An extension 132 of the container sheath is positioned withinthe aperture 126 so as to completely enclose the portions of thedraw-tab 108 or 110 within this area. The extended sheath portion 132 isbonded releasably to the draw-tab by a seal at the transverse portion134, only. When this seal is broken by pulling the draw-tab, both thedraw-tab and attached sheet-like element slide through the openedextension 132 and are shielded from contact with the front panelportions 128.

FIG. 5b illustrates means for providing that but on draw-tab isavailable for use at any given time. In this example, the draw-tab 110protrudes from the front of the housing and is ready to be pulled. Theother drawtabs are wrapped around the front wall portions 128' and areheld at this position by their natural resiliency and contact with thenext or contiguous draw-tab. each draw-tab includes a transverse flange136. When the protruding draw-tab is pulled, the flange 136 thereofdraws the tip of the next draw-tab out of the slit 126. This procedureis repeated for allof the draw-tabs.

It will be understood that the subject invention may bepracticed orembodied in other ways without departing from the spirit or characterthereof. The preferred embodiment described herein is .to be regarded,therefore, as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope thereof beingindicated by the appended claims and all variations which come withinthe meaning of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. A device for making available rapidly as a singlehanded facileoperation a plurality of sheet-like elements, each element having atleast an exposed surface area treated with a substance of givencharacteristics, said device comprising:

an elongated housing including means contributing to separation ofhermetically sealed sheath means which enclose and seal each of saidtreated elements;

said housing having at least one opening, of a restricted dimension, inthe front wall thereof which comprises both said separating means andmeans to retain, one of said sheath or treated element while allowingpassage of the other one therethrough;

a plurality of said sealed sheath means stacked in said housing and atleast one of said sheath means in operative alignment with said opening;I a draw-tab operatively associated with each sheath and treated elementcombined therewith; v the draw-tab of a said aligned sheath extendingthrough said opening; and each sheath including a weakened areaoperatively connected with said draw-tab;

whereby when a mechanical stress is applied by a pulling force exertedon the tab extending through the opening, the sheath separates at saidweakened area and continued pulling withdraws said one of said sheath ortreated element from the housing while the wall structure defining saidrestricted opening retainssaidother one within the housing.

2. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said'sheetlike element is inthe form of a pad. I I

' 3. A device, as defined in claim I, wherein said hous ing is composedofan' in expensive material such as-a plastic com'position'and isadapted to be thrown away when all of the stack mounted therein havebeen exhausted.

4. The device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said housing is adapted tobe releasably mounted in a more permanent mounting bracket. 7

5. A device, as-defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting bracket isadapted to be fastened to a supporting surface.

6. A device, as defined in claim 5, wherein said mounting bracket isadapted to be releasably attached to a dispenser of toilet tissue.

7. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein a unitary extension of saidsheath extends through said opening to prevent contact of said treatedsuraace of said sheetlike element with an adjacent wall portion.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is operatively connected'tothe treated element and extends through said weakened area of the sealedsheath whereby said pulling force effects withdrawal of said treatedelement from the sheath and housing while the ruptured sheath isretained within the housing.

9. A device as in claim 8 wherein the means operatively associating saidtab with the treated element is a tear string.

10. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein the means operativelyassociating the tab with the treated element is the tab extended toattachment with said element.

11. A device as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes an alignedplurality of said at least one opening and each of said stacked sheathmeans and tab associated therewith is in operative alignment with arespective one of said openings.

12. A device as in claim 11 wherein the free end of each tab, exceptingthe lead tab, is frictionally retained within an adjacent one of saidopenings.

13. A device as in claim 12 wherein each tab includes a boss portionadapted to abut the free end of the succeeding, frictionally retainedtab whereby upon exertion of said pulling force an the lead tab, theboss portion removes the succeeding tab from its frictionally retainedposition.

14. A device as in claim 1 wherein said opening is of a sufficient widthto avoid housing wall contact with the said one of the sheath or elementwithdrawn therethrough.

15. A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is directly connected only tosaid sheath and the sheath is treated by said substance due to sheathcontact with the elements exposed surface whereby said pulling forceeffects the sheath separation at said weakened area and withdrawal ofthe treated sheath from said housing while the element is retainedwithin said housing 16. A device as in claim 2 wherein said pad isreceived in areceptacle.

17. A device as in claim 2 wherein a fold of the sheath of a succeedingpacket, which comprise a sheath and treated element, provides a sealmeans for the adjacent, prior treated element.

18. A device as in claim 16 wherein a fold of the sheath of a succeedingpacket, which comprises a sheath and treated element, provides a sealmeans for the adjacent, prior receptacle and treated element therein.

19. A device as in claim 1 wherein saidhousing bottorn comprises adisposal bin in communication with 5 hQusmg the stacking area andadapted to receive said other one

1. A device for making available rapidly as a single-handed facileoperation a plurality of sheet-like elements, each element having atleast an exposed surface area treated with a substance of givencharacteristics, said device comprising: an elongated housing includingmeans contributing to separation of hermetically sealed sheath meanswhich enclose and seal each of said treated elements; said housinghaving at least one opening, of a restricted dimension, in the frontwall thereof which comprises both said separating means and means toretain, one of said sheath or treated element while allowing passage ofthe other one therethrough; a plurality of said sealed sheath meansstacked in said housing and at least one of said sheath means inoperative alignment with said opening; a draw-tab operatively associatedwith each sheath and treated element combined therewith; the draw-tab ofa said aligned sheath extending through said opening; and each sheathincluding a weakened area operatively connected with said draw-tab;whereby when a mechanical stress is applied by a pulling force exertedon the tab extending through the opening, the sheath separates at saidweakened area and continued pulling withdraws said one of said sheath ortreated element from the housing while the wall structure defining saidrestricted opening retains said other one within the housing.
 2. Adevice, as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet-like element is in theform of a pad.
 3. A device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said housingis composed of an inexpensive material such as a plastic composition andis adapted to be thrown away when all of the stack mounted therein havebeen exhausted.
 4. The device, as defined in claim 3, wherein saidhousing is adapted to be releasably mounted in a more permanent mountingbracket.
 5. A device, as defined in claim 4, wherein said mountingbracket is adapted to be fastened to a supporting surface.
 6. A device,as defined in claim 5, wherein said mounting bracket is adapted to bereleasably attached to a dispenser of toilet tissue.
 7. A device, asdefined in claim 1, wherein a unitary extension of said sheath extendsthrough said opening to prevent contact of said treated suraace of saidsheet-like element with an adjacent wall portion.
 8. A device as inclaim 1 wherein the tab is operatively connected to the treated elementand extends through said weakened area of the sealed sheath whereby saidpulling force effects withdrawal of said treated element from the sheathand housing while the ruptured sheath is retained within the hOusing. 9.A device as in claim 8 wherein the means operatively associating saidtab with the treated element is a tear string.
 10. A device as definedin claim 8 wherein the means operatively associating the tab with thetreated element is the tab extended to attachment with said element. 11.A device as in claim 1 wherein the housing includes an aligned pluralityof said at least one opening and each of said stacked sheath means andtab associated therewith is in operative alignment with a respective oneof said openings.
 12. A device as in claim 11 wherein the free end ofeach tab, excepting the lead tab, is frictionally retained within anadjacent one of said openings.
 13. A device as in claim 12 wherein eachtab includes a boss portion adapted to abut the free end of thesucceeding, frictionally retained tab whereby upon exertion of saidpulling force an the lead tab, the boss portion removes the succeedingtab from its frictionally retained position.
 14. A device as in claim 1wherein said opening is of a sufficient width to avoid housing wallcontact with the said one of the sheath or element withdrawntherethrough.
 15. A device as in claim 1 wherein the tab is directlyconnected only to said sheath and the sheath is treated by saidsubstance due to sheath contact with the elements exposed surfacewhereby said pulling force effects the sheath separation at saidweakened area and withdrawal of the treated sheath from said housingwhile the element is retained within said housing.
 16. A device as inclaim 2 wherein said pad is received in a receptacle.
 17. A device as inclaim 2 wherein a fold of the sheath of a succeeding packet, whichcomprise a sheath and treated element, provides a seal means for theadjacent, prior treated element.
 18. A device as in claim 16 wherein afold of the sheath of a succeeding packet, which comprises a sheath andtreated element, provides a seal means for the adjacent, priorreceptacle and treated element therein.
 19. A device as in claim 1wherein said housing bottom comprises a disposal bin in communicationwith the stacking area and adapted to receive said other one of thesheath or treated element which is retained by the housing and whichfalls into the bin when the said one of said sheath or element iswithdrawn from the housing.